Packaged inflated playing ball and method of making the same



April '1, 1930. M. B. REACH 1,752,695

PACKAGED INFLATED PLAYING BALL AND METHOD OF MAKING. THE SAME Filed April 19, 1928 awe/mica as? MWMAM ,H w

Patented Apr. 1, 1930 PATENT OFFICE MILTON B. REACH, OF SPRINGFIELD," MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO A.

G. SPALDIN G 66 BROS, OF CHICOPEE, MASSACHUSETTS PACKAGED INFLATED PLAYING BALL Application filed April, 19,

This invention relates to tennis, or similar balls, having a wall of highly elastic material and containing an inflating fluid under superatmospheric pressure,.and relates particularly to a means and method for preventing, or retarding, deterioration of the ball during the period betwen its manufacture and its use.

As is well known, extreme care istaken in the manufacture of a tennis ball so that it will 1 meet certain established requirements such as relate to size and rebound, but it has been found that frequently material changes occur in tennis balls inthe periodbetweentheirmanufacture and use, so that, at the time they are put into play, they do not conform to the established, or desired, requirements, and their wall structure has become deleteriously affected.

These undesirable results we believe to be due primarily to the expansion of the ball, or

stretching of its wall structure, under pressure of its inflating medium, and my invention aims primarily not only to prevent any expansion of the ball beyond its normal size under external atmospheric pressure at the time of its manufacture, but to place theball under a mechanical external pressure above that of the atmosphere, so that it will be held slightly below its normal size as aforesaid.

To this end, my invention comprises a unique marketable article comprising a tennis, or similar, ball having a highly elastic wall and containing a fluid inflating medium under superatmospheric pressure,zand a re-v movable restricting covering or jacket tightly embracing the surface ofthe ball and preferably exerting such =compression thereon that the ball will be held below its normal size at atmospheric pressure at the time of its manufacture, and to the method of forming this article.

Theinvention is illustrated by aid of the accompanying drawing in which the figure shows a side view of a tennis ball with the jacket applied thereto and covering the same; In proceeding according to the invention, the tennis ballhaving the prescribed characteristics, is wound with a tape of cloth, paper or analogous material indicated at 7 under sufficient tension so that when the ball is c0m- AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME 1928. Serial No. 271,338.

pletely wound or covered as shown in the drawing, it will be held at reduced size and the tension on the wall relieved. The tape may be applied by hand or by any suitable wmding means, and the end of the tape may be tucked under one of its convolutions or secured by cement as desired. The tape is, of course, removed or unwound when the ball is to be used for play.

- Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A method of reducing the tension of i the elastic components of an elastic inflated playing ball which consists in applying thereto a covering composed of a tape wound thereon under tension.

2. A tennis, or similar, ball having a Wall of elastic material and an inflating medium therin under superatmospheric pressure, said ball being constructed to conform to the prescribed size and bound requirements, and a covering comprising a tape wound thereon to embrace the entire periphery of the ball and holding it under compression and within the aforesaid prescribed size.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature' MILTON B. REACH. 

